US Urges Citizens to Leave Russia Over Possible Pneumonic Plague Case
The US Embassy in Russia is advising Americans not to travel to the country and urging those already there to leave immediately. The warning follows reports of a possible pneumonic plague case in the Irkutsk region.
The US Embassy in Russia is calling on American citizens to avoid travel to the country, while those already there are advised to depart without delay. The warning came after media reports of a possible case of pneumonic plague in the Irkutsk region, where a person has died, according to Ukrainian outlet Unian.net.
Quarantine and restrictions
Quarantine measures have reportedly been introduced in the region, and several hospitals in Irkutsk have been closed. The embassy says it is monitoring the situation closely but notes that the US government's ability to assist its citizens in Russia is limited, especially outside Moscow. It also warned that US government employees may face restrictions on work-related and personal travel in certain Russian regions for health and security reasons.
The State Department's advisory against travel to Russia remains in force. Besides the security situation, one of the cited risks is possible unlawful detention. The embassy described the current health situation as one more reason for extra caution. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump, asked what US intelligence agencies are reporting about a possible outbreak, said that in-depth discussions are currently under way.
What happened in Irkutsk
The situation escalated after the death of 27-year-old Darya Shipilova was reported on 2 October. She worked at the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Institute. According to one version, on 25 September she accidentally broke a test tube containing plague bacteria in the laboratory. Another version holds that before falling ill she had been on a work trip to Buryatia, where a plague focus was detected near the Mongolian border.
Following her death, a mask requirement was introduced at the Shelekhov aluminium plant, and 189 people who may have been in contact with the deceased were placed in quarantine in Irkutsk. Russian officials have not officially confirmed a wider outbreak of pneumonic plague.
Pneumonic plague is an especially dangerous form of the disease because, under certain conditions, it can be transmitted from person to person.
